3rd POV
The sun was just sitting in the horizon making the sky turn a bright pink shinning over the Glass castle. The warmth of the summer day starting to grow colder as the sun disappeared taking its warmth with it. This was the little assassin's favorite time of day. The time where she could go over the castle wall, and explore. This was the time. She could finally be free.
Her dad was right. She was just like her mother.
Chaols POV
Today was the day that has haunted Chaols dreams for years.
The Caption of the Guard toke deep breaths on the way to her rooms. He breathed in and out. In and out, in and out. He tried not to clench his hands to tight, because the thing he was carrying was very breakable. Or shall he say the Gift he was carrying. It was the only that he had to offer on his day.
It was the only thing that Celaene could offer to her one and only daughter on her 15th birthday.
Chaols hadn't heard from Celaene in over 7 years. No letter, vest, news. Nothing. Hell he didn't even know if she was still alive. And that haunted him every day. But he wouldn't let that show. Not today. Today was not just Celaenas daughter's birthday. But his daughter's birthday as well.
Today was Bailey Sardothien Westfells' Birthday.
15 years ago today
Celaena was in Wendlyn giving birth to their beautiful baby girl. Thanks to Chaols idea of sending Celaena away. She was able to have the baby without the King knowing. Because Wyrd help them all if the King knew that his Champion was pregnant. He wouldn't hesitate to kill her. And let alone if he found out it was Chaols child that she bore. He wouldn't be afraid to kill him as well.
But Chaols had no idea he was sending the women he loved, who was to bare his child away from him. If he would have known that he might not have sent her away. If anything he for sure would have gone with her.
Thinking about not being there for not just the birth, but the first 3 years of his daughters life hurt. Without counting the pain it caused him when he thought about not being able to help out Celaena. Thinking of how Celaena had to kill the King and Princes of Wendlyn while, taking care of a child made him feel guilty.
Thanks to Dorien the Crown Princes of Adralen. Chaols was able to stay at the castle instead of leaving with his father to go to Arindell. Chaols was able to be there when Celaena came back. But she wasn't alone.
*Flash Back*
Chaols went to the harbor and waited for Celaena. He was barely able to control the excitement when he found out that Celaenas job had been a success, and that she was to be here in a couple of days. He was in a meeting with the King, and his counsel when he overheard the news. So for the past 2 days. He would come down to the docks, and wait and see if she would be on the ship that would dock.
Today was the 3rd day that he would wait for her. He started getting anxious. Thinking something was wrong once she didn't arrive the first day. But the distance between here and Wendlyn was far. So it would take a couple of days at the least before she arrived. But Chaols didn't care. He was down there at the dock every day. After he got done with his duties. He would come and sit down on the bench that over looked the open waters. And wait.
It was 2 am. The time Chaols would get up, and head back to the castle to get some sleep, then arrive back early the next. But once Chaols stood to get up. He saw a ship out in the distance. He didn't think she would be on that one. But he wanted to stay, just to make sure.
Chaols waited at the end of the dock, and watched a group of males, rush to the end of the dock, and caught ropes that were thrown from someone on the ship. He waited as the men tied them down, and then put a bridge that started at the top of the ship, and ended on the dock. Chaols watched as different men and women got off. And just as he turned himself around. He caught a glimpse of white hair, and blue eyes.
Spinning around as fast as he could, making he dizzy in the process. Chaols looked up at the ship, and saw her. He stared at her, and he was positive that his face showed as much longing in it as he felt. He moved his gaze over her face. Her blue eyes sparkling in the night, her white hair glamming off the torch light, her face a little bit tanner than it was before she left. Even though she looked the same. Something was off. Chaols continued to stare at her face. He studies her eyes. And that's when he saw it. She was exhausted. But that was probably because of all the days she didn't have good enough sleep.
Chaols looked down her body. She was fit than she was when she left. But besides that everything was the same. She was the same Celaena he sent away. That was until he came across the little bundle of blankets that she was carrying in her hands. Chaols watched as Celaena study the bundle. How her eyes glowed with love, and protectiveness. And something else. Nurturing? He couldn't put his finger on it.
Chaols watched as Celaena smiled at the bundle of blankets in her hand while she dismounted the ship. He watched, and study how carefree she looked, and acted. Until her foot hit the dock. Then as if she was just remembering where she was. Her head shot up. And she looked around. Scanning for threats. He watched how she hugged the bundle tighter to her, as she walked down the dock towards him. Which she didn't even notice him. And he didn't even say a word to her as she got closer.
Chaols watched the bundle of blankets. He watched as it moved. And he watched as a small tinny tinnier hand came up from the bundle and grabbed Celaenas hair. Then he looked at Celaenas face, with shock and horror as she smiled and cuddle the blanket that held a baby in it.
Chaols felt anger building inside of him. That couldn't be her baby. It had to be someone else's. But the way she looked at the child, and carried it, and protected it. He knew that that was true motherly instincts. Chaols' anger shot through the barrier that he had placed, and spread throughout his whole body.
The women he loved had a child with another man! The women, who had told him her secret, had forgotten about him, and started a family with a different man just over the course of 3 years! Chaols was so full of anger, that by the time Celaena had made it to the end of the dock. Chaols marched up to her.
He didn't know what he was going to do. All he knew was that he wished she never had that child. He wished he never sent her away. He wished that he could kill the man that had created that child. He sent her away to keep her safe. Because he loved her. Not so that she could fall in love with some other guy, and start playing house. But sadly. That's what happened.
Chaols was about 5 feet away, when Celaena looked up. It was a little chilly out. So Chaols was wearing a cloak, as was Celaena. But Celaena didn't have her hood up. But Chaols did. And caught up in his anger, Chaols forgot to put it down. So once he approached her. She went into protective gear. And gave him the look of death.
"Can I help you?" Chaols stopped dead in his tracks. He was only a couple feet away now. And would have kept going had it not been the sound, and tone of her voice. It sounded like the time when she found Nehemia dead, and tried to kill him. He still had the scar that ran across his face that reminded him every day of what he had done.
Chaols' anger dropped for a minute, and turned into sorrow, and excitement. Helping him remember the hood that was covering his face. Taking one hand, and bring it to the top of his hood. Made Celaena pull out a dagger from Wyrd knows where, and hold the baby tighter. But once the hood dropped, and she saw his face. She put the dagger back in her cloak, but still held the child tightly.
"Chaols." She whispered. Just hearing she says his name after 3 years. Made him feel things that he hadn't felt in a very long time. And seeing the joy that shown through her eyes made him fill with happiness. Completely forgetting his anger towards her. He smiled, and toke a step forward. But when she tokes a step back, and fear, regret and sorrow filled her eyes. His happy feelings disappeared. "What are you doing here?" She toke a step back. Holding the baby as close to her as she could.
"I've been waiting for you. I've missed you so much." Chaols stated as he looked into her eyes. But then his gaze moved to the bundle. And he said "but I see that you feel otherwise." Chaols glared at the blankets that held the child of the women he loved, but knew it was from a different man.
Catching his meaning, and his gazed. Celaena looked from the child to Chaols. And smiled.
"I did miss you…." Before she could get any further. Chaols jumped in. Unable to hold his anger in, he shouted.
"It doesn't look that way!"
Celaena turned defensive. Glaring at the man she loved, she whispered harshly "I did miss you. And if you would let me explain. You would come to understand, and see that I missed you more than you could ever begin to imagine. But first, I need to take her some place where the king can't get her."
So it was a girl. Great. Taking a deep breath. Chaols nodded, as he watched the child.
"What's her name?"
Celaena seemed to calm down a little with the question.
"Bailey." Celaena smiled at the baby girl as if the child was the only joy she had in the world.
"How old is she?" Chaols had to know this. He wanted to know how long it takes for her to get over him. He wanted to know how long he had gone loving her, and missing her. When she could really have cared less, and found someone else.
"Three." Celaena said. Chaols didn't believe her. The child looked to be a couple months. But what reason did she have to lie? But three? She would have had to get over Chaols right when she left. So she was in love with someone else for the whole three years she was gone! He spent countless nights without sleep thinking of her, while she was sleeping with someone else the minute she arrived in Wendlyn!
Chaols' anger started building inside him again. Getting worse by the second. "She doesn't look that old."
"It because she is part Fae. Well, mostly Fae. She is also part human." Celaena looked at Chaols as she said that last part. As if trying to say something. Maybe to reassure him that it wasn't a Fae male she fell for.
They started walking to the carriage that Chaols had sent for an hour ago. Celaena trying to shield the child from the driver. Once Celaena was in with the child in hand, and Chaols got in, and the door was shut. Chaols shut the curtains in order to hide the child, or get some privacy? He didn't know.
The carriage gave a jolt, and started its walk. Before Chaols got in. He told the driver, to take a very long stroll, and to stay away from the castle for now.
Chaols watched as Celaena bounced the baby. Chaols hadn't seen her face. So out of curiosity. Chaols asked "Can I see her?" Earning a death stare from Celaena, and a moment of silence. Celaena looked at the child, then at Chaols, and came to set next to him on the back side of the carriage.
Celaena pulled the blanket away from the babies face, and Chaols heart stopped as he looked at the baby.
The girl had Celaenas beautiful long hair, and Celaenas fair skin. But Chaols could have sworn that the baby had his eyes. Celaena knowing Chaols was shocked. She smiled.
"Who's her father?" chaos had to know. He had to make sure that it was true. Or that it was not true.
Celaena smiled. She knew this question was coming. And she knew just how to answer.
"Her father is a very loving man. But he didn't know about her for a very long time. He's a very busy man. And the love of my life." Knowing that Chaols was getting pissed. She finally said "Her father's name is Chaols Westfells."
And just as she said his name. Those beautiful brown eyes looked at Chaols. They looked at him with love, joy, and excitement. It was as if Bailey knew that he was her father. And she reached her hands out to him. Chaols looked at Celaena silently asking permission. And once Celaena nodded. Bailey was already in Chaols arms, and smiling at him.
"Hi." Chaols whispered to the baby in his hands. He didn't realize he was crying until Bailey put her small tiny tinny hand on his face, and whipped a tear off his face. Chaols couldn't stop smiling. He was holding his daughter. HIS daughter. He finally had a family. A family of his own. He couldn't help but smile. "I'm your dad."
FIVE MINUTES LATER
Chaols hadn't taken his eyes off of Bailey as she slept in his arms. She was so warm, and smelled like the woods, and the night. Chaols kissed the top of her head. The softness of her skin felt amazing on his lips. He loved her. He loved his daughter, and would do anything to keep her safe.
"Chaols." Celaenas voice was soft, but having known her life he did. Chaols knew something was wrong. So he pulled Bailey close to his chest. There was no way in hell he was letting her go. He was turning into a protective parent already. "What are we going to do? We can't take her to the castle can we? I don't want her near that devil. But I can't be without her." Chaols knew how she felt. He wasn't about to let either of them out of his sight. He had to think of something.
The carriage was still moving. Chaols had lost track of time. So thinking he had to decide right away. He came up with a plan. The king was still alive. But Dorian. DORIAN! What would he think about Bailey? Would he have her taken away because she was his daughter, and the women he loved had given birth to her? But Dorian was the only chance that he had. Hopefully Dorian would get over it and help them. But what if he didn't?
"Dorian." Chaols said. "We could ask him to keep her a secret. Or we could hide her in the tomb. Or maybe we could say that she is my niece or something."
Celaena knew Chaols was trying. She saw the way he looked at Bailey. She knew that he wasn't going to let her go. She knew he wasn't going to let her out of his sights either. But she sure as hell knew that Bailey was going to be safe no matter what would happen. Because she had Chaols as her father. She already had him wrapped around her little finger.
"We could say that she is your niece." Celaena said. She knew that Bailey had her hair. But she had Chaols eyes. And that's what people would see the most. And maybe, just maybe the King won't notice. Or he will. But will let Bailey stay.
"Celaena." She knew what he was going to say before he even opened his mouth. "I don't want her near him at all." Neither did her. "Should we keep her down in the tomb?" Celaena was about to give him the death look, but then he said, "Just for a little bit. That way the King doesn't think it's your child. Because you coming back from a mission after three years, and having a baby in your hands. That's not going to send the best message."
That's when Celaena got a great idea. "Why don't I just tell the king that I found her? Or I could just say I adopted her. Because he never said I couldn't have a child right?" But she knew Chaols was right. The King would know that Bailey was her daughter if she just came to him and said that she found her.
"I'll have Dorian talk to the King, and see what he says." Celaena gave Chaols the death star again. It didn't really frighten Chaols as much as it used to. But it was still scary as shit. "I'm not going to say it straight up. I could just simply drop the idea into his head. And knowing him, he will go straight to his dad, and ask if it's ok. Because he would want to… make sure that you're safe." They both knew that Dorian wouldn't just want to make sure that Celaena would be safe. Dorian would want to have a child as well.
"What about until you do that?" Celaena asked.
"Does she still cry in the middle of the night?"
"No."
"Then she could stay with you in your bed at night, and then during the day. Maybe Philippa could watch her during the day?"
That didn't seem like the best idea. But it was the best one they had at the time being. So with a shout to the drive from Chaols. They headed to the castle. Chaols still holding his baby girl protectively against his chest. Then he wrapped his arm around Celaena, and she laid her head down on his chest. And at that moment. Chaols and Celaena both knew that they were a family. And if anyone tried to destroy that, whether it be the King, stranger, Dorian, or in Chaols case (a boy that liked Bailey) they would protect their own.
